Fire-escape.



Np. 783,063. PATENTE-D PEB. 21, 1905.

D G MGGLAY PIRE ESCAPE.

t APPLICATION FILED APB. 14, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED FEB. 21, '1905.

yNo. 783,063.

D. G. MQGLAY. PIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.14, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. humm am'dfg 56762.51,

@nomma- UNITED STATES Patented February 21, 1905. i

DAVID G. MCOLAY, OF SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 783,063, dated' February 21, 1905.

Application led April 14;, 1904. Serial No. 203,170.

T0 all whom, t Wtrty concern.'

Be it known that I, DAVID G. MCOLAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Santa Ana, in the county of Orange and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Im-V provements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention aims to provide novel means for effecting a safe retreat from a building or structure in the event of the ordinary avenues of escape being cut off by means of fire or other cause.

The appliance is designed for application to the exterior of a building and comprises an inclosed shaft, an endless carrier operating therein, and brake and alarm mechanisms whereby the speed of the endless carrier may be controlled and persons advised of the position of the platforms when at the different landings.

The invention consists of the novel features, details of construction, and combinations of parts, which hereinafter will be more particularl y set forth, illustrated, and finally claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming `a part of the specification, Figure lis a perspective view of a lire-escape embodying the invention, showing it applied to the front of a building. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective View of the upper portion of the device on a larger scale. Fig. 4 is a plan section on the line X X of Fig. 1.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views lof the drawings by the same reference characters.

In accordance with this invention a shaft 1 is applied to a side of the building or structure 2 to be equipped with the safety appliance, and this shaft is preferably of metal, although it may consist of any suitable fireproof material. The wall or side of the building or structure to which the appliance is attached closes the inner side of the shaft and is provided at the different landings with openings to admit of egress from the building into the shaft in an emergency. At each landing or floor of the building or structure the opening leading into the shaft 1 is closed by means of a door 3, which may be of metal or fireproof material, said door being acted upon by a suitable spring, as A, to keep the same closed eX- cept when held open by the person retreating from the building. Adjacent to the dooropening 3 is located an alarm-bell 5, which is adapted to be sounded by the endless carrier to apprise one when the platform is approaching, so as to avoid accident. If desired, balconies 6 may communicate with the sides of the shaft and extend to one or more windows, thereby enabling escape to be effected from windows should the latter present a more convenient and safe passage. Doors 7 admit of persons passing from the balconies into the shaft, and these doors are automatically closed by means of springs.

A ladder 8 extends from the cornice or eaves of the building and communicates with the shaft 1, thereby providing a means of escape for any persons finding their way to the roof.

The endless carrier 9 is of ladder construction and comprises side chains and cross rods or bars, the latter being secured at their ends to corresponding links of said side chains. This endless carrier is supported at its ends by means of pulleys or wheels attached to shafts 10 and 11, suitably mounted in arms or bracket extensions of the shaft l. The lower shaft 11 is adjustable to admit of maintaining the endless carrier under proper tension, so as to avoid any slack therein which is objectionable and would tend to impair the efliciency 'of the apparatus. Any well-known means may be employed for adjusting the shaft 11 so as to vary the distance between the shafts 10 and 11, so as to take up any slack in the endless carrier. The upper shaft 10 is provided with sprocket-wheels 12, which receive the side chains of the endless carrier 9, thereby causing both chains to move in unison and maintaining the rungs of the carrier in hori- Zontal position. Brake-wheels 13 are secured to the outer ends of the shaft 10, and brakebands 14 cooperate therewith; One end of each brake-band 14 is connected to the shaft 1, and the opposite end is connected to the brake-setting connection to admit of the brakes being applied either from the ground or by means of the persons using the appliance to TOO effect escape from the building. As shown,

two connections 15 and 16 are connected to at the lower end of the shaft 1 within convenient reach of the ground. The connections 15 extend along the inner sides of the shaft 1, so as to be conveniently grasped by the persons using the escape.

The endless carrier 9 is practically a traveling ladder, and in order to increase its efficiency said carrier is provided at intervals with platforms 18, preferably pivotally connected thereto, so as to fold close against the outer side of the shaft upon their ascent. The platforms 18 are journaled upon certain of the rungs of the endless carrier and are provided at opposite ends with brackets 19, which are adapted to obtain a purchase against the side chains of the endless carrier and hold the platform horizontal when descending through the shaft 1 A trip 20 is applied to each platform, so as to effect a sounding of the alarm upon approach of the platform to the landing'.

In an emergency a person or persons availing themselves of the appliance to effectescape enter the shaft l through the most convenient exit and mounting either upon a platform or a rung of the carrier set the endless carrier in motion, the speed being regulated by means of the brake mechanism either from within by the person pulling upon the connections or from without by opera-tion of the bail 17.

It is proposed to light the interior of the shaft 1, and this may be eected by an electric-lighting system of any'type.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- In a lire-escape, an inclosed shaft arranged exterior to the building or structure, an endless carrier arranged to operate in said shaft and comprising side chains and connecting rungs, a brake mechanism for controlling' the speed of the carrier, and platforms pivoted to the endless carrier and having end brackets to bear against the side chains and support the brackets in horizontal position when descending' through the shaft, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID G. MCCLAY. [L sl fitnessesz W. P. FERGUSON, CLYDE BISHOP. 

